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INFLUENCE OF PROBATION ON LATER LEGALLY RELEVANT SOCIAL CONDUCT OF PROBATIONERS

NCJ Number
49470
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 140-154
Author(s)
D ROHNFELDER
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE RECORDS OF 97 WEST GERMAN OFFENDERS ON PROBATION BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND DECEMBER 31, 1966 WERE EVALUATED IN A STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF PROBATION ON THE CRIMINALLY RELEVANT SOCIAL BEHAVIOR OF PROBATIONERS.
Abstract
IN 52 OF THE 97 CASES, PROBATION ENDED SUCCESSFULLY WITH A SENTENCE REMISSION; IN THE REMAINING 45 CASES, THE PENALTY SUSPENSION WAS REVOKED. HOWEVER, OF THE 52 SUCCESSFUL REMISSIONS, 19 CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS DIFFICULT CASES WITH POSITIVE RESULTS. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH RESPECT TO WORK AND HOUSING CONDITIONS, ECONOMIC SITUATIONS, LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS WORKED AGAINST PROBATION OFFICER EFFORTS TO PULL CLIENTS THROUGH THE PROBATION PERIOD. THESE INFLUENTIAL FACTORS WERE ALSO ESTABLISHED AS CONTRIBUTORY TO THE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF REMAINING PROBATIONERS, BUT IN THE CASES OF MANY OF THE 45 REVOKEES, THE PROBATION OFFICERS WERE UNABLE TO NEUTRALIZE THESE NEGATIVE OUTSIDE INFLUENCES. WHILE A FEW OF THE FAILURES WERE CLEARLY DUE TO THE UNSUITABILITY OF PROBATIONERS OR THEIR UNCOOPERATIVENESS, MANY OF THE REMAINING CASES INVOLVED ISOLATED (I.E., HOMELESS, JOBLESS, FRIENDLESS) PROBATIONERS UNABLE TO OVERCOME--EVEN WITH THE HELP OF THEIR PROBATION OFFICERS--THE HUGE OBSTACLES TO RESOCIALIZATION. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THIS CAN ONLY BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE COOPERATION OF PROBATION OFFICERS WITH COUNSELORS, THERAPISTS, AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THERE WERE ALSO CERTAIN BORDERLINE CASES--8 REMISSIONS AND 6 REVOCATIONS--WHOSE OUTCOMES WERE INFLUENCED BY FACTORS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE PROBATIONERS OR THEIR OFFICERS, SUCH AS TOO HASTY REMISSION WHERE A PERIOD OF PROLONGED PROBATION WAS CALLED FOR AND COURT OVERRIDES OF PROBATION OFFICER OBJECTIONS TO REVOCATIONS FOR MINOR OFFENSES. --IN GERMAN. (KBL)

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